Interleukin 16 (IL-16) in asthma and allergic rhinitis. A comparison between upper and lower airways.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of bronchial mucosa, in which mast cells, eosinophils and activated T cells are of considerable importance. The increased chemotactic activity for T cells in patients with asthma is mainly attributable to IL-16. A strong association between asthma and allergic rhinitis exists from a clinical and epidemiologic standpoint of view.